Our hearts were broken when the 2020 Chelsea Flower Show was cancelled due to lockdown, but the good news is we have plenty of suggestions of how to bring the beauty of blossoms to your own garden. We've gathered a list of popular and easy to grow flowers that will show you that you don't have to be green-fingered to see your garden thrive, whether you have a mini-collection of potted plants on the balcony of your flat or a roomy garden outside.
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Clematis montana
Hardy, beautiful and with a scent to die for, Clematis Montana grows rapidly and is simply stunning with has satin pink flowers and bronze foliage.
Clematis Montana, £18.99, Amazon
Peanut Cactus
You really can't go wrong with a flowering cactus, which will thrive indoors or out with little care and deliver adorable blooms to boot! Chamaelobivia – also known as the Peanut Cactus – produces vibrant flowers and works well both as a house plant or in the garden.
Chamaelobivia Mixed Hardy Peanut Cactus, £9.99, yougarden.com
Butterfly Bush
Buddleia is a hardy flowering shrub that is best for outdoor patios and gardens as it grows up to 2.5 metres tall. Known as the Butterfly Bush because it attracts butterflies, it is not only very easy to grow but also has gloriously multi-coloured ombre blooms that flourish from summer to autumn.
Buddleia 'Flower Power', £14.99, yougarden.com
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Hydrangea
Hydrangea are a very popular plant due to their colourful blooms lasting through summer and their lush vibe, and the good news is that they are easy to grow whether in a pot, sun or shade.
Large gift wrapped blue hydrangea plant, from £29.99, Appleyard London
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Lavender
Lavender is a sure-fire way to bring a pop of life to your garden, and they have a fragrance known to promote calmness, so they are perfect to add some relaxation to your life. These plants overall are super easy and low maintenance, but keep in mind that English varieties are known to be more hardy than French.
Lavender Lavandula intermedia 'Grosso', £9.99, yougarden.com
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'Safari Sunrise' Aloe
Flowering succulents are always a great option if you want a low-maintenance plant that's still gorgeous. The Safari Sunrise variety of aloe is beautiful with firecracker-like flowers that bloom summer through winter. Although it is a hardy plant, it prefers temperatures above 2C.
Safari Sunrise Aloe, from £12.99, Thompson and Morgan
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Sunflowers
There’s nothing that says happiness more than cheery sunflowers, which are very easy to maintain and reach heights from about 50cm to as tall as three meters – perfect if you want to impress your kids or the neighbours. As you can tell by their name you will need a sunny spot to grow them, and they do well both in gardens and in pots, although keep in mind that sunflowers grown in planters tend to not grow as high. If you're looking for a special sunflower, Thompson and Morgan's SunBelievable 'Brown Eyed Girl', won third place in 2018's RHS Chelsea Flower Show Plant of the Year competition
SunBelievable 'Brown Eyed Girl' Sunflower, from £12.99, Thompson and Morgan
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Californian Poppy Tree
Bring some California dreaming to your life with a Californian poppy tree, but only if you are ready for maximum impact! This tree, Romneya coulteri, is a very easy-to-grow but truly impressive addition to your garden since its giant poppies are some of the largest around – up to six inches in width!
Californian Poppy Tree, £12.99, yougarden.com
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So there you have it – a shopping list of flowers that aren't just pretty, but also, and maybe more importantly, hard to kill. So even the most novice of gardners can get out there and get growing!
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